Always hungry?

I am an unfortunate tenant who lives with people who don't train their 4 Shitzus. The male of the bunch feels the need to go into the room where their kennel is and eat every time I or someone else is there. I can stand between he and the food just fine so it's not a food protection sort of thing. I think it's a weird dominance issue. I don't get it. Can someone tell me what this means?